Doctors are urging patients to avoid seeking low-cost weight loss surgeries abroad, warning that such procedures may compromise safety and quality of care.
New guidelines, published in the International Journal of Surgery, caution against discounted bariatric surgeries and special offers advertised to medical tourists. Experts from the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) and the International Federation for Surgery of Obesity (IFSO) stress that these deals often come with heightened risks.
The guidance advises patients to only consider surgery at accredited medical centers and recommends that the procedure be performed only on individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
Stricter Standards for Medical Tourism
The newly issued recommendations—also backed by the Metabolic Disorders European Chapter and the European Coalition for People Living with Obesity—outline key requirements for both patients and healthcare providers.
Patients are advised to seek comprehensive information about the risks and benefits of weight loss surgery, including complications related to travel. A minimum of two years of follow-up care is recommended.
Medical clinics offering bariatric surgery abroad are warned against using targeted social media advertising to attract international patients. The guidelines further emphasize the importance of consulting with a doctor in the home country before undergoing treatment overseas.
Unregulated Industry Leading to Unsafe Surgeries
While there are no official statistics on the number of UK residents traveling abroad for obesity surgery, the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society estimates that around 5,000 Britons undergo bariatric procedures overseas annually, compared to 4,500 who receive treatment through the NHS.
Experts cite long NHS waiting lists as a major reason for the rise in medical tourism. Dr. Laurence Dobbie, an academic clinical fellow at King’s College London and lead author of the study, highlighted the dangers:
“Across Europe, people living with obesity often wait several years, or lack access entirely, to obesity surgery in their home countries, prompting many to seek treatment abroad. Unfortunately, some of these providers fail to meet basic standards of care, resulting in serious injuries and, tragically, even death.”
Complications from botched surgeries range from severe infections and permanent injuries to scarring and, in extreme cases, fatalities. Another common issue is the lack of post-surgical follow-up care, as patients returning to the UK often struggle to receive proper medical oversight.
Growing Concerns Over UK Patients Seeking Surgery in Turkey
Recent data from the Foreign Office revealed that six British nationals died in Turkey in 2023 following surgical procedures, including weight loss operations. Among them was Shannon Bowe, 28, from Denny, Scotland, who died after her gastric band surgery led to a fatal injury when an artery near her heart was punctured twice.
Professor Volkan Yumuk, President of EASO, reinforced the urgency of regulating bariatric surgery in the medical tourism industry:
“There have been too many cases of poorly performed, and in some cases, unsafe, obesity surgery carried out abroad under what we would call medical tourism. In producing these guidelines, the obesity community has come together to make sure obesity surgery in Europe is safe and meets appropriate standards, wherever it takes place.”
A Strain on the NHS and Growing Demand for Obesity Treatment
The rising demand for weight loss surgery comes at a time when specialist obesity services in England are facing unprecedented strain. A report by the Obesity Health Alliance found that some patients are waiting up to five years for weight management support. In some cases, services have been forced to close waiting lists due to overwhelming demand.
According to the latest Health Survey for England, two-thirds of adults were classified as overweight or obese in 2022. The backlog in treatment availability has driven more Britons to seek procedures in countries such as Turkey and South Africa, despite the risks.
As medical tourism remains largely unregulated, experts continue to emphasize the importance of choosing reputable, accredited medical centers and ensuring proper post-operative care to prevent unnecessary complications.
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